Royal Oak approves traffic committee recommendations, including an autism sign over staff recommendation

City engineer Holly Donahue presented four recommendations from the Nov. 25 traffic committee, including two speed-hump requests, a request for an autism-identification sign on Amelia Street, and committee officer elections.

Donahue told commissioners staff generally recommends against "person with autism" signs because they "provide very little benefit and can provide a false sense of security." The traffic committee had split on the sign recommendation (transcript reports a 3–2 split), and staff presented the committee’s recommendation to deny the request.

At the dais, a commissioner identified in the transcript as Commissioner Cole/Colo moved to approve installation of the sign contrary to the committee recommendation, arguing the sign could provide relief and neighborhood awareness for the family. Commissioner Chisholm seconded the motion. "These signs are more of a feel-good measure than anything," another commissioner said, while others cited compassion and neighbor awareness as reasons to approve.

The commission approved the sign by voice vote. It also approved three speed humps on Berkshire (meets criteria; petition support recorded at 89%) and one speed hump on Trafford (meets criteria; petition support recorded at 91%), with implementation slated as part of 2026 road projects. The commission also accepted the traffic committee’s officer changes, naming Karl Laubach chair and Sean Dunlop vice chair; the motion passed.

Staff noted specific technical details for speed humps, including 85th-percentile speeds and vehicle counts used to meet criteria, and said approved humps would be incorporated into the city's 2026 road work.